Contemplative Bible Reading

1 Samuel 15:22-23 (New Living Translation)

22 But Samuel replied,

“What is more pleasing to the Lord:
your burnt offerings and sacrifices
or your obedience to his voice?
Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice,
and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.
23 Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft,
and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols.
So because you have rejected the command of the Lord,
he has rejected you as king.”

The prophet Samuel is delivering a message from God to King Saul. The message, while clear, is not good. The first part of verse 23 brings the charges against Saul.

The second part caught my attention: being stubborn is just as bad as worshiping idols. Huh? That has to be a misprint or something, right? Sure, a few of us are stubborn some of the time, but we aren’t worshiping idols; we’d never do something like that.

God had told Saul, “I know you like doing such-and-such, but stop doing such-and-such and start doing something else. Life is different when you follow Me, so change.” Saul refused to change. Saul was stubborn. Saul felt that his own ways carried as much supernatural power as God. Boy, was he ever wrong.